Ahh okay so I bet you all hate me now for killing off Dak. Sorry if you haven't read the last chapter yet and you accidentally read this part… :0 but I mean…it had to be done.

Also, I received and anonymous review criticizing me for killing off Dak, I truly do value your opinion. I value all of the opinions and reviews I get, good or bad. I've lost readers and gained some over the past couple months of writing this story—and I believe that for the most part the choices I make for it are good and just how it's going to be.
I try to take into account what everyone says and use it to produce better chapters. In the last chapter reviews, someone said there was too LITTLE Dak drama—so I GAVE them Dak drama.
It would be unfortunate if the person who wrote the review stopped reading the story and doesn't see this comment—but I really want you to know that I respect your opinion, and I wish I could PM you and ask about how you think I could make it better, or fix it in a better sense. I do agree that having Logan tell Dak to drive drunk was a bad choice now that I'm looking back on it, but what's published is published, and I don't believe in taking things back; again, what's done is done. I don't think it was a stupid move on my part.

Sorry, went on a rant there, I don't mean to bore any of you or come off as mean or rude. I was just addressing the review-seeing as I couldn't PM it and make all of you other readers' lives easier.

Here you go, I hope this chapter is better than the last for some of you.

Chapter 26:

It was Friday morning already; a day had passed since the four boys had learned about Dak's car accident. Logan had refused to speak to anybody—not even James, since. He hadn't eaten, or even slept. Instead, he stayed in James' bed, crying.

"Loges?" James tried knocking on the bedroom door and entering, but Logan had locked it. It was James' room, yet he didn't feel rejected or annoyed that Logan was shutting him out.

James understood Logan needed his space, but it was going a little too far after some time. James finally caved and knocked again for a fourth or fifth time that day saying, "Logan, please come out."

There was silence, yet James found himself willing to wait. "Logan I'm going to stand here until you say something, anything," he pressed his ear to the door, waiting for an answer.

"There's nothing to say," he heard a muffled response on the other side of the door almost two minutes later.

"I'll be downstairs if you need me," James sighed before turning and walking back downstairs. There was a different feel in the house now, not as sunny and cheerful. The sky was a little cloudy, and it was definitely affecting the atmosphere in the house.

"Any luck?" Kendall lay outside on a chair next to the pool, sunglasses on.

"Nope," James sat down on the edge of the chair next to Kendall's. "He thinks it's his fault. I mean, he did tell him to drive drunk, but it sounds to me like Dak's done it before."

"How could it be his fault? Dak has done it before! He used to drive Logan home drunk when it suited his schedule! It was all Dak's fault, he could have called someone to come pick him up—or better yet he could have just not come at all!" Kendall ranted, crossing his arms. The sun was being shaded over by a thick dark cloud—threatening to pour down rain on Beverly Hills.

"Kendall—" James tried to calm him down, but his attempts were useless against the blonde boy, who stood up and started pacing.

"You know, it would have been one thing if he came to a party you threw in Minnesota and confronted Logan like that, but no! He had to come to fucking California with us! He had to see your post on facebook and had to have the nerve to show up! And now look, he's dead, and Logan feels all the guilt!" Kendall sat back down, and covered his face in his hands, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I've known Logan for almost all of my life…since three years old," Kendall said into his palms. "It's one thing seeing him upset over a bad grade in a class, or a scraped knee because he fell off of his bike after his dad took the training wheels off. I just can't bear seeing him like this." James stood up and sat down next to Kendall on his chair, and started rubbing his back.

"W-what are you doing?" Kendall looked up, concerned.

"My mom did this when I was way younger—whenever I'd be upset or make a fuss she'd do it to quiet me down, especially when she was working," James explained.

"It's fine. I'm fine," Kendall lied, and then put his face back into his hands, upset.

"No, you're not," James sighed. "You're stressed out, I get it, let someone take care of you for once."

"If anyone needs help here or taken care of, it's Logan," Kendall said, turning to look up at the window into James' room that faced the pool. It was completely dark.

James blew a piece of hair out of his eyes that was sitting in his eyes and irritating him. "It hurts me too, you know."

"What?" Kendall turned back to James.

"Having him like this. I'm the one who started the mess with Dak. Maybe if I hadn't come along, Dak wouldn't have gotten jealous and messed around with Logan," James looked down at a small bird that sat on the chair next to them.

"Don't say that," Kendall looked at James, even though James wasn't returning the eye contact. "He would have started something like that even if you weren't around. You were good for Logan, really."

"It just felt right, when I met Logan, even after I heard about Dak. I wanted to love him more than anything…and to this day I do," James shrugged. "But that's the besides the point. We need to figure out how to get Logan to talk—" he stopped short, realizing he had a key to his room. "Never mind," he stood up.

"Where are you going?" Kendall asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Looking for something," James responded, walking away from the pool. "Wait, where's Carlos?"

"He went to spend the day with Luke, I told him he could… he doesn't need to see Logan like this after it first happened with Dak cheating on him," Kendall explained.

"I think he and Luke are good together. I wonder what they're going to do when we leave tomorrow," James said to no one in particular. "I'll be back soon, maybe," he announced, before going inside to get the keys to the bedrooms. He went up to the library, and went into the desk. He found the one that said 'JJ's room' in the top drawer before leaving and making his way to the other side of the house.

Once he was outside his own room, he knocked.

"Logan, I'm coming in," he announced. After getting no response, he was sure that it would be okay. He stepped inside and stopped, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The curtains were closed on the large windows, blocking the little outside light.

"Hey babe," James whispered, getting into the bed with Logan, who was hugging a pillow close to his body, covered in tears. He pulled the sheets over the both of them, and waited for Logan to scoot closer to him.

"He's gone," Logan whispered, voice shaking. There were no words to describe what he was feeling. "For real this time…" he shook uncontrollably in James' arms, crying more than before.

"It's okay," James attempted to calm him down, but the sobs became worse and louder.

"It's not okay!" he cried into James' chest. "If it weren't for me, this would have never happened!" he cried harder and harder, waiting for the tears to finish and dry out.

"Logan, you don't know that," James pulled Logan tighter, letting his boyfriend stain his shirt with his tears. "He could have been anywhere and talked to anyone before it happened, it's not your fault."

"But he was here, and he was with me! I was the one that told him to leave. I knew he was drunk, but he's driven home before, I just didn't know this time would be the last…"

"Let me make this clear," James took a hand to lift up Logan's chin on his chest. "He could have taken the responsibility to call someone, or not come at all and get drunk," James repeated what Kendall had said. "And either way, he's gone," he whispered, done with reasoning.

Logan sniffled as he nestled into James' neck, appreciating the body heat and security in his arms. "Y-yeah," he sniffed. "He is."

"I'm sorry you had to lose your first love," James continued. "But you have friends around you to help you." He felt Logan nodding into James' chest.

"You're right," he sighed, reaching a hand up to wipe away the tears. "I'm sorry I'm acting like this." Wiping the tears away had no use, they would find their way back eventually.

"Shhh, sweetie, don't be sorry," James stroked Logan's cheek. "Cry all you want, I'm here for you." With any other person, James would have hit himself in the face for being so cheesy. But this was Logan.

"I-I love you," Logan sniffled into James' chest, letting the last of his tears fly out of his eyes.

"I love you too," James whispered, quieting Logan down. "Rest now…we're leaving tomorrow and you barely have any sleep in your system."

"I don't want to go," Logan whined, looking up at James with his puppy dog eyes.

"You and me both," James answered, chuckling. It was good that he was able to get Logan's mind off of Dak. "We'll come back soon. New Years, perhaps, we can come," he suggested, wiping a tear away from Logan's cheek with his thumb.

Logan smiled weakly. James couldn't blame him; he was going through a lot. Logan squeezed James tighter with the arm around his stomach. James smiled to himself. After a moment, Logan sat up a little bit to look at James, to feel more secure. He broke the glance by moving up to kiss him, sweet and slow.

"Thank you," James smiled. "It's been almost a day since I've kissed you last."

"You're welcome," Logan blushed. "I think I just need some more alone time, if you wouldn't mind."

James wasn't offended, he understood. So with that in mind, he left the room and Logan was alone again.

James and Kendall sat outside by the pool, talking for most of the day. Some of their conversations revolved around Dak, some revolved around what kind of work they'd be doing in school when they returned—if so, how much of it.

"It kills me that it's already been almost a week here, we're leaving tomorrow," Kendall sighed, dipping his feet in the pool.

"Oh I know," James leaned back on the edge of the pool, kicking his feet as well. "Time goes quicker here. Feels like this morning we were fighting over who cleans the turkey," he let out a snort.

Kendall started laughing. "It's always me who gets stuck with the short end of the stick."

"But we did it," James finished their laughter with a content sigh.

"Hey guys," they heard a voice from behind them. James turned to see Logan walking towards them from outside the house, cleaned up and in swim trunks.

"You okay man?" Kendall asked him, concerned.

"Yeah, just needed to let out a couple tears I guess," Logan mumbled. "Or a gallon's worth," he chuckled dryly. "Where's Carlos?" he asked.

"With Luke," James answered him.

"Huh," he replied. "Good for him."

Kendall looked away from Logan out into the little valley that lay past the pool view. "Yeah, good for him." Logan mumbled something incoherent before disappearing into the house and coming back with a water bottle for himself and sitting on the chair Kendall was on earlier.

"So Logan told me he saw you with Lucy last night," James nudged Kendall. Kendall turned from the pool to look at Logan, who was lying back on the chair with his eyes closed, absorbing the tiny bit of sun there was.

"Yeah," Kendall chuckled, before freaking out. "Don't worry, I'll clean the sheets in my room—"

"Kendall…drop it," James lifted hands up passively, laughing before standing up to take his shirt off and flipped into the pool. He emerged from underwater and addressed Kendall. "I don't want to know what you did in there, but I'm not worried about it. Just make sure Luke doesn't hear about that."

"You got it," Kendall stood up and walked over to Logan, who was still lying with his eyes closed.

"How are you feeling?" Kendall asked, tapping on Logan's legs to make room to sit. Logan grunted before moving them, Kendall sat down.

"I'm okay I guess," Logan sighed, throwing his hands over his face. "Just shocked."

"I understand," Kendall patted Logan's knee. "But we're gonna be back home soon and we can forget about all of this."

"I don't think I can just forget, Kendall," Logan mumbled. "Just because you and James didn't like him means it's just something we'll forget."

"I get it—" Kendall started, but then stopped. He didn't get it, truthfully. He had never lost anyone like that, someone he'd loved at one point to a certain extent. He'd broken up with girlfriends he loved, but none of them ever died. "I'm sorry," he finished. Logan nodded.

"Me too."

And that was that.

Carlos got home, and was surprised at the sight he saw as he made his rounds through the house. Logan was in the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. Kendall was in the living room, playing video games, and James was outside doing sit ups.

Carlos was quiet as he went into the kitchen to get water, hoping not to disturb and upset Logan.

"Hey buddy," Logan sighed, hearing Carlos. "You're not a ninja you know."

"Doesn't mean I can't try," Carlos smirked. There was a moment of silence where Logan swiped mayonnaise onto a piece of bread and placed it on top of the small sandwich. "How are you feeling though?" Carlos asked, slowly uncapping the water bottle and pressing it to his lips.

Logan shrugged. "Pretty bad. But I'll be fine. I just really want to eat now." He lifted the plate with his sandwich on it and went to sat at the little booth in the kitchen. "How was your day with Luke?" he asked, as he lifted the sandwich up and took a large bite out of it. Carlos took this as an invitation to sit.

"Good," he said, summing it up. Logan waited for him to go on, but Carlos didn't get it and was silent.

"Go on," Logan nodded, pushing him along.

"Oh," Carlos blushed. "Well… we kinda just talked…" he trailed off, not wanting to tell Logan what they were talking about.

"About Dak," Logan assumed, knowing his best friend better than anyone else in the world.

"Maybe?" Carlos closed an eye shut and seemed to be protecting himself as he leaned away from the table from Logan's perspective.

"Carlos I'm not going to hurt you," Logan sighed. "I'm just a little sad that it had to be this way. You're not forbidden from talking about it."

Carlos nodded, before taking another sip of his water. "He asked me about you as well. Asked how you were taking it, how James and Kendall were."

"And?"

"Well…I told him James and Kendall were just a little shaken up," Carlos started, before pausing.

"What'd you say about me?" Logan took another bite out of the sandwich.

"I told him I didn't know," Carlos looked at his water bottle.

"Well," Logan swallowed the chunk of food in his mouth. "That's alright I guess."

"I'm sorry I wasn't around," Carlos quickly apologized. "I just, I didn't want to see you like that. Not again."

"Carlos," Logan reached a hand out to grab his best friend's hand. "It's fine. I'll be fine. We'll all be fine. We'll be back home in a couple of days and we'll have some things to take our minds off of it all."

"But I don't want to go," Carlos frowned. "I like it here and I really really like Luke."

"James promised we could come back for New Years," Logan smiled. He liked the fact that Carlos was actually falling for someone, but was sad to see the relationship being strained by a huge distance. "You could work something out until then."

"But I don't want to pressure Luke into like… a long distance relationship," Carlos sighed. "We're not that close yet."

"You could be," Logan shrugged, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"I guess," Carlos sighed again. "We can call and text each other and see if its worth it or something like that."

"Good plan," Logan stood up with the plate in his hands. "But you should probably talk to him in person about it before we leave."

"Maybe," Carlos chuckled. "I'm not good with that stuff."

Logan walked over to the sink and placed his dish in it. "It's alright. Do what makes you happy though. You deserve it." He cracked a witty smile and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Carlos in awe.

"I do deserve it," he spoke aloud to himself.

"Deserve what?" Kendall walked into the kitchen, empty soda can in his hands.

"To be happy," Carlos jumped up and pulled his phone out, to text Luke again.

Kendall laughed. "Go get 'em buddy."

That evening, Luke and Matt came over to say their goodbyes, opting not to wake up early the next morning. They brought along a pizza, seeing as the boys living in the house had cleaned out the fridge and cabinets, and had thrown out the remainders. They all sat outside by the pool to eat the food, enjoying the clear weather while chatting and laughing.

Logan was quiet, but the other boys expected it and left it alone. James simply wrapped his arm around his boyfriend and resumed the conversing with everyone, not pushing anything out of Logan.

Carlos and Luke disappeared at one point; Logan figured they were talking about what was going to happen next for them. Logan worried Luke wanted to assume his party boy lifestyle and wouldn't go for trying to keep the relationship alive with Carlos—but when the two returned to the patio outside holding hands and all smiles, Logan's fears were washed away.

As soon as the final goodbyes were said, Kendall shook Luke and Matt's hands and went upstairs to finish packing. Carlos gave Luke a goodbye kiss and gave Matt a hug before following Kendall. Logan hugged the both of them and waited for James to be done as well.

James assured his two old friends that they would be back to visit soon, perhaps over the holidays. There were hugs, pats on the backs and laughter before the two friends disappeared and James closed the door behind them.

Once he was done with packing, Kendall walked down the hallway to James' room.

"I'm going to bed now," Kendall announced, watching as James shoved a lot of clothes and hair products into a bag.

"Night," James looked up and cracked an awkward smile—too caught up in the packing.

"Goodnight," Logan mumbled, showing up from the bathroom and sliding into bed. James watched the interaction between Kendall and Logan, and sighed before closing his bag and peeling off his shirt after Kendall left the room.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he turned off the lights and blindly crawled in the bed with Logan.

"Ouch," Logan giggled when James accidentally kneed him while getting in.

"Sorry," James apologized, and pulled the sheets over them. There was a comfortable silence as they nearly drifted off to sleep.

"You know," Logan broke the silence. "Despite the few things that have happened recently, this week was really great."

"It was," James hummed in agreement. "I enjoyed having a week off with you."

"You too," Logan sighed. "Do you think Dak's gonna be okay up there?"

James smiled. "I think so."

"Alright," Logan shifted in the bed before yawning. "That makes me feel better."

"Goodnight," James whispered.

"Love you, James."

I'm sorry for that chapter… I was stressed out. I hope this didn't suck butt.

Tell me if it did though. It's fine.

xx